Position setting device of steering column for vehicle

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a position setting of steering column for vehicle. Its purpose is to provide a position setting of steering column for vehicle which is easy to be manufactured, installed, and manipulated by controlling a telescopic device and a tilt device with a lever.  
     A position setting of steering column for vehicle comprising:  
     a steering column which is served as internal and external pipes being expansible and contractive; a steering shaft which is provided to be flexible inside of said steering column; a tilt device at one side of said steering column so as to support it according to the refraction of said steering shaft, a position control lever ( 32 ) controlling said tilt device ( 30 ) by rotation; a wire cable ( 90 ) wherein a wire ( 91 ) which is pulled according to the rotation of said steering shaft ( 30 ), is provided inside and wherein is fixedly installed at the both sides of the refraction of said steering shaft ( 30 ); a taper block ( 70 ) which is moved by way of said wire ( 91 ) and wherein a guide protrusion ( 71 ) is provided at the side; a lower block ( 60 ) wherein a tapered guide groove ( 62 ) is provided at the side so as to move upwardly and downwardly by way of said guide protrusion ( 71 ); a penetrate hole ( 51 ) connecting to said external pipe ( 12 ) so as to guide the up and down movement of said lower block ( 60 ); and a support spring ( 95 ) resiling and mounting said taper block ( 70 ) at one side in order for said lower block ( 60 ) to be fixed to said internal pipe ( 11 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a position setting device ofsteering column for vehicle, particularly to a position setting deviceof steering column for vehicle controlling a telescopic device and atilt device with one lever.

[0003] Generally, a steering column for vehicle is installed within acab so as to transmit rotatory force which is generated from a steeringhandle, to a steering wheel.

[0004] And a telescopic device controlling the direction of axis and atilt device controlling the direction of slant, are provided at thissteering column so as to control the position of a steering handleaccording to the driver's physical condition.

[0005] 2. Description of Background Art

[0006] Figure is a side cross-sectional drawing showing a conventionalposition setting device of steering columns for vehicle. As illustrated,within a steering column (1) which is contracted due to the provision ofa divided hollow shaft, a steering shaft (2) adapting a universal joint(not illustrated) in one side of the middle, is installed so as to movetogether and be refractive pursuant to the contraction of a steeringcolumn (1).

[0007] Meanwhile, a tilt device (3) is provided in the one side of thesteering column (1) so as to support a steering shaft (2) wherein by auniversal joint, the upper portion is refractive at an optional angle tothe lower portion.

[0008] This tilt device (3) is installed so as to pivot on a hinge (3b), the pull of a tilt lever (3 a) leads a cam face (3 a) which isinstalled at the same shaft as a hinge (3 b), to open a rotation member(3 d) and subsequently the engagement of a tooth form (3 e) with aillustrated gear becomes open. As a result, a steering shaft (2) isfreely refractive. When a person let go the gripped tilt lever (3 a),the tooth form portion (3 e) of a rotation member (3 d) is engaged,therefore, the angle become be controlled.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the telescopic device. Asillustrated, a telescopic device (4) is formed on the one-side face of asteering column (1).

[0010] And if a locking lever (4 a) installed at the exterior of asteering column (1), is turned, a screw (4 b) connected thereto, isrotated. A fixtation state with a steering shaft (2) is controlled.

[0011] By doing so, a steering column (1) will be moved axially underthe state that a screw is unwound and then is separated from a steeringshaft (2).

[0012] In addition, if a screw is wound in the opposite direction, asteering shaft (2) is fixed within a steering column (1) by a screw (4b).

[0013] However, conventional position setting devices of steering columnfor vehicle have inconvenience in that since each lever for operating atilt and a telescopic, are installed, to manufacture and install asteering column is complicated and it is hard to operate the tilt andthe telescopic of a steering column.

SUMMARY OF THE IMVENTION

[0014] The present invention is for solving conventional problems. Itspurpose is to provide a position setting of steering column for vehiclewhich is easy to be manufactured, installed, and manipulated bycontrolling a telescopic device and a tilt device with a lever.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The description of the drawings is as follows:

[0016]FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a conventional steeringcolumn for vehicle.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the line A-A of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a plane view showing a position setting device ofsteering column for vehicle according to the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a position settingdevice of steering column according to the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 5 is fragmentary perspective view showing a position settingdevice according to the present invention.

THE DESCRIPTION OF SIGNS OF MAIN PORTIONS OF DRAWINGS

[0021]10: Steering column

[0022]11: Internal pipe

[0023]12: Extemal pipe

[0024]13, 61: Tooth form

[0025]15: Forward fixtation portion

[0026]16: Rearward fixtation portion

[0027]20: Steering shaft

[0028]30: Tilt device

[0029]32: Position control lever

[0030]40: Telescopic device

[0031]50: Mounting bracket

[0032]51: Penetrate hole

[0033]52: Connecting portion

[0034]60: Lower block

[0035]62, 82: Guide groove

[0036]70: Taper block

[0037]71: Guide protrusion

[0038]80: Upper block

[0039]82: Guide groove

[0040]90: Wire cable

[0041]91: Wire

[0042]95: Supporting spring

DETAILDE DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0043] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention, aposition setting device of steering column for vehicle comprises:

[0044] a steering column which is served as internal and external pipesbeing expansible and contractive; a steering shaft which is provided tobe flexible inside of said steering column; a tilt device at one side ofsaid steering column so as to support it according to the refraction ofsaid steering shaft, a position control lever (32) controlling said tiltdevice (30) by rotation; a wire cable (90) wherein a wire (91) which ispulled according to the rotation of said steering shaft (30), isprovided inside and wherein is fixedly installed at the both sides ofthe refraction of said steering shaft (30); a taper block (70) which ismoved by way of said wire (91) and wherein a guide protrusion (71) isprovided at the side; a lower block (60) wherein a tapered guide groove(62) is provided at the side so as to move upwardly and downwardly byway of said guide protrusion (71); a penetrate hole (51) connecting tosaid external pipe (12) so as to guide the up and down movement of saidlower block (60); and a support spring (95) resiling and mounting saidtaper block (70) at one side in order for said lower block (60) to befixed to said internal pipe (11).

[0045] Hereinafter, the detailed description of preferred embodimentsaccording to the present invention will be provided, referring todrawings.

[0046]FIG. 3 is a plane view showing the position setting device ofsteering column for vehicle according to the present invention. Asillustrated, a steering column (10) is provided so as to be allowed tocontract by providing a hollow pipe which is divided and formed.

[0047] And within a steering column (10), a steering shaft (30) whereina universal joint (21) at the middle side so as to move with thesteering column (10) and to be refractive.

[0048] Meanwhile, the tilt device (30) supporting a steering shaft (30)wherein the upper portion is curved at the optional angle with the lowerportion by the universal joint (21), is provided in the one side of asteering column (10).

[0049] This tilt device (30) which pivots on a hinge (31) installed inthe cross direction with the steering shaft (30), is installed.

[0050] In addition, within the inside of the hinge (31), a cam face (notillustrated) connected to the inside of the hinge (31) and a rotationmember which is turned by the cam face, are provided.

[0051] And a tooth form portion (33) is provided in the one side of therotation member. This rotation member and the tooth from portion (33)are connected to the cam face, thereby being attachable and detachableby way of a position control lever (32) extending to the exterior.

[0052] In this context, the provision of a restoring spring connected toa mounting bracket (50) in the one direction of the position controllever (32) allows a position control lever (32) to be returned to itsoriginal position, after it is operated.

[0053] In addition, the present invention provide a telescopic device(40) in the external upper portion of the steering column (10) so as tomove together with the tilt device (30) when the tile device is operatedby the rotation of the position control lever (32).

[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a telescopic device (40) is installedin a manner that can be attached to and detached from an internal pipe(11) by penetrating a mounting bracket (50) of a hollow core connectedto the external pipe (12) of a steering column (10).

[0055] That is to say, the telescopic device (40) makes the fixationstate of the steering column (10 maintain, when it is welded togetherthe internal pipe (11), and when it is separated, it makes the steeringcolumn (10) to control a telescopic device.

[0056] For this, a quadrangular penetrate hole (51) is provided in amounting bracket (50) and a tooth form (13) raising adherent power, isprovided in an internal (11) of the lower side of this penetrate hole(51).

[0057] And at the upper portion of the tooth form (13), a lower block(60) wherein a tooth form (61) is formed in the lower face, is insertedand installed.

[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 5, a guide groove (62) wherein a taper atboth sides of the inside, is provided at this lower block (60).

[0059] And at the upper portion of a lower block (60), a upper block(80) having a guide groove (82) wherein a taper is formed at both sidesof the inside and which is provide in a manner of be opposite to thelower block (60), is provided.

[0060] In this context, guide grooves (62, 82) of the lower block (60)and the upper block (80) are arranged opposite to each other, thereby aspace between guide grooves (62, 82) in one side is narrow and a spacebetween guide grooves (62, 82) in other side is wide.

[0061] In addition, a guide protrusion (71) is formed both at the upperand lower directions so as to move along the guide groove (62) at theinterior of the lower block (60). A taper block (70) whose upper andlower side faces are formed taperingly, is installed.

[0062] Namely, a upper block (80) and a lower block (60) is movedbetween the taper block (70), therefore, the interval becomes distantand close by the upper and lower side faces of the taper block (70) andthe guide protrusion (71).

[0063] In this context, the taper block (70) has a shape similar toguide grooves (62, 82) whose one side is narrow and the other side iswide.

[0064] Also, in order for a lower block (60) to be moved upwardly anddownwardly at the interior of the penetrate hole (51) by setting theposition of the upper block (80), a connection portion (52) which isupwardly protruded at the upper portion of the mounting bracket (50) andwhich supports the upper block (80), is provided.

[0065] At the same time, a wire cable (90) is installed between aposition control lever (32) and the taper block (70) so as to actuatethis telescopic device (40).

[0066] This wire cable (90) is in a wire (91) at the interior and itsone end is connected to forward fixation portion which is provided atthe forward side of the connection portion (52) and its other end isconnected to and installed at the rearward fixation portion which isprovided at the forward side of a position control lever (32).Therefore, in its entirety, it is arranged as a big u-shape.

[0067] And a wire (91) in the inside of a wire cable (90) is operatedwithin the wire cable (90) wherein one end is connected to one end ofthe rotation of the position control lever (32) and other end isconnected to the narrow side of the taper block (70), and which, as aresult, is fixedly arranged at a forward fixation portion (15) andreward fixation portion (16).

[0068] In addition, a supporting spring (95) is provided at a taperblock which is pulled forward by a wire (91) connected to the positioncontrol lever (32), at the time when a position control lever (32) isrotated, so as to return to the original position after it is actuated.

[0069] The supporting spring (95) is installed between the narrow sideof the taper block (70) and forward fixation portion (15) in such amanner that a wire (91) may be penetrated through the interior.

[0070] Since by the supporting spring (95), the taper block (70) wasmoved to the backward (broad side), the upper block (80) and the lowerblock (60) are always separated from each other. The lower portion (60)which is supported by the upper portion (80) fixed by the connectionportion (52), is welded with the internal pipe (11) located the lowerportion.

[0071] A position setting device of steering column for vehicle composedas described the above, maintains the position of a controlled steeringcolumn (10) since under the state that the position control lever (32)is not operated, the tooth form portion of the tilt device (30) engageswith the rotation member and the tooth form (61) of the lower block (60)downwardly supported by the supporting spring (95) engages with thetooth form (13) of the internal pipe (11).

[0072] In this context, the pull of the position control lever (32)allows the tooth form portion (33) and the rotation member of the tiltdevice (30) to be separated, and therefore, to control the angle of thesteering column (10).

[0073] And the wire (91) is pulled by the position control lever (32)and the wire (91) moved the taper block (70) forward.

[0074] Subsequently, a space between the upper block (80) and the lowerblock (60) becomes close according as the guide protrusion (71) is movedalong guide grooves (62, 82). Eventually, the lower block (60) is movedupward.

[0075] That is, a space between the lower block (60) and the internalpipe (11) is opened, therefore, the steering column (10) can axially becontrolled.

[0076] Under the state, when the tilt and telescopic of the steeringcolumn (10) are controlled and the position control lever (32) is puton, the position control lever (32) is returned to the original positionby the restoring spring (35). Afterwhich, the tooth form portion (33)engages with the rotation member in the tilt device (30) and the lowerblock (60) and the internal pipe (11) are meshed with each other andcontrolled in the telescopic device (40). Such state is maintained.

[0077] As in detail described thus far, a position setting device ofsteering column for vehicle according to the present invention has theadvantage in that since it has a telescopic device which connects a wirecable to a position control lever controlling a tilt device and which isattached to and detached from the internal pipe by this wire cable, thetilt device and the telescopic device are controlled with one lever, andas a consequence, it is easy to manufacture, install and manipulate thesteering column.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle steering column having a steeringcolumn which is served as internal and external pipes being expansibleand contractive, a steering shaft which is provided to be flexibleinside of said steering column, a tilt device at one side of saidsteering column so as to support it according to the refraction of saidsteering shaft, comprising: a position control lever (32) controllingsaid tilt device (30) by rotation; a wire cable (90) wherein a wire (91)which is pulled according to the rotation of said steering shaft (30),is provided inside and wherein is fixedly installed at the both sides ofthe refraction of said steering shaft (30); a taper block (70) which ismoved by way of said wire (91) and wherein a guide protrusion (71) isprovided at the side; a lower block (60) wherein a tapered guide groove(62) is provided at the side so as to move upwardly and downwardly byway of said guide protrusion (71); a penetrate hole (51) connecting tosaid external pipe (12) so as to guide the up and down movement of saidlower block (60); and a supporting spring (95) resiling and mountingsaid taper block (70) at one side in order for said lower block (60) tobe fixed to said internal pipe (11).
 2. A position setting device ofsteering column for vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guideprotrusions (71) of said taper block (70) are provided to be symmetricto each other, said mounting bracket (50) is fixed at the upper portionof said taper block (70), a upper block (80) wherein a guide groove (82)is formed, is fixedly installed so as to correspond to said lower block(60).
 3. A position setting device of steering column for vehicle as setforth in claim 1, wherein a tooth form (61) wherein a convexoconcave isformed, is provided at the bottom of said lower block (60), a tooth form(13) is provided at the peripheral face of said internal pipe which isattached and detached from said lower block (60) for engagement of teethwith said tooth form (61).